THE HACKBERRY TREE TELLS HIS STORY 79 



lawn under the great trees. "That's what I call a 

 picture. There goes the third and the fourth 

 generation. You and I will see the fourth, the fifth, 

 and succeeding generations come and go here on 

 the big farm, and I am wondering if the coming 

 years will be as full of interesting events as those 

 of the past have been. 



"Look at our friend's wife, the pretty mother of 

 the fourth generation, as the evening sunlight plays 

 on her rich brown hair. She reminds me very much 

 of the maiden on the beautiful black mare that day, 

 when ninety years ago the two young people pledged 

 each other their love in this wilderness garden, and 

 to think I have seen aU this transformed into a 

 thing of beauty and a joy and happiness to everyone 

 who comes this way. 



"Don't tell me I haven't lived in a wonderful age, 

 young fellow ! I have seen the Indian with his two 

 poles hitched to his pony dragging his tent and his 

 blankets to his places of sacred worship. I have 

 seen the first generation go on horseback and by 

 sled to the country church. I have seen the second 

 generation go to church in the carriage and phaeton, 

 and now we see the third and the fourth generations 

 going to the same church in high powered auto- 

 mobiles. 



